Introducing Jeremy Gans, Candidate for Village Trustee
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- Written by Joanne Wallenstein
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Resident, attorney, coach and member of the Zoning Board of Appeals Jeremy Gans has been selected by the SCNP to run for Scarsdale Village Trustee. The election will be held on Tuesday March 15 from 6 am to 9 pm at Scarsdale Public Library.
Here is what he shared:
Tell us about yourself – where did you grow up and go to school? We see you were a college athlete what sport did you play and how has that experience shaped who you are today?
I grew up in Rockville, Maryland, a suburb of Washington, D.C. I was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes when I was five, and that’s been something I’ve lived with every minute of every day since then. I was extremely athletic as a child and, at that time in the early 1980s, most doctors didn’t really know how to handle a Type 1 diabetic who wanted to be a competitive athlete. As I entered high school, I set a goal for myself to play college tennis at a Division 1 school. I trained hard and my parents and I found the right doctor who knew how to treat diabetics who were competitive athletes. Achieving my goal, and playing for four years at Cornell was incredible. Playing a sport in college taught me the importance of time management. I had obligations as a student and an athlete and I had to make sure that I fulfilled both roles.
After college, I went to George Washington University Law School, where I received my JD.
Why did you initially choose to move to Scarsdale?
When we decided to move out of the city, we were looking to find a place with great schools and a strong sense of community. We looked in a lot of areas in Westchester County, but Lisa and I both felt strongly that Scarsdale would be a great place to raise a family.
What do you do professionally and how can your professional skills complement your service on the board?
When I moved to New York after law school, I practiced corporate law for seven years. That experience taught me how to identify issues and develop creative solutions to both existing problems and advise clients on how to avoid complications in the future. For the past decade, I’ve been with JDJ Capital Partners, a small investment firm. My responsibilities now extend far beyond providing legal advice. We make investment decisions based on our long-term view and try not to be swayed by daily swings in prices or other short-term moves. But we are disciplined about revisiting our initial decisions and adjusting our positions when the fundamentals have changed.
I think these skills will help me as Trustee. Many of the decisions that the Board makes are for the long-term benefit of the Village. The Board must pay attention to present operations and short-term economic issues, of course, but a large part of the Board’s role is to make decisions that benefit our residents for years.
What was one of your earliest volunteer activities in Scarsdale?
Like many people, my first experience volunteering in Scarsdale came through youth sports. I volunteered to coach little league and rec basketball when my oldest son was in kindergarten. Over the years, my volunteer roles have expanded beyond sports. I’m a member of the Zoning Board of Appeals, the Scarsdale High School PTA Scholarship Fund and I was a member of the Executive Committee of the Scarsdale Forum (I took a leave of absence from that position as soon as I was nominated to run for Trustee).
We see you have served on the Zoning Board of Appeals since 2017. Tell us about some of the more challenging applications you have reviewed and also discuss any issues that you believe might require changes to the Village Code.
The most challenging applications are the ones when neighbors speak in opposition to an applicant’s proposal. When we are asked to consider a variance request, we are required by state law to weigh the benefit to the applicant against the health, safety, and welfare of the community at large. It’s vital to approach these applications with an open mind and that the Zoning Board listens to the applicant and concerned neighbors before voting. I have found that an open-minded approach has resulted in my vote being swayed by comments made by an applicant in some instances, or by comments from the public in other cases.
I think the Village must continue to balance the right of owners to develop their property with the desire of the community at large to prevent drastic changes to their neighborhood. It is worth examining the Code to see if there are any areas that need to be tightened in that regard. I also think that hiring a Code Enforcement Officer is a good step to making sure that developers and property owners are not violating Village Code when doing work on their land.
Board service is not always easy. Why are you willing to step up?
We have a great professional staff at Village Hall. Beyond that, though, Scarsdale’s operations are largely overseen by volunteers. Trustees, school board members, and the people who make up our boards, councils and committees are all volunteers. It is vital that people who care about Scarsdale and are informed on the issues step up to serve our community. I encourage anyone who cares deeply about the future of our Village to volunteer in an area of interest.
I had been asked to run for Trustee a few times in the past. I felt like this year was the right time to step up. I said yes this year because I believe that I am now able to devote the necessary time and energy to the job.
Looking forward, what do you think will be the main issues you address during your term?
The renovation of the Scarsdale Pool Complex will definitely be one of the main issues to address during my term. We are very early in the process, having received the Village consultant’s Existing Conditions Report in late February. The next steps will be broad public engagement, where we will learn what residents want the pool complex to be in the future.
Another big issue is bringing more life to the Village center. I would love to see the Village become more pedestrian and bike friendly, with a vibrant mix of shops and restaurants. Of course, we have to make sure that we have sufficient parking for shoppers and commuters on Metro North.
Given the Village’s aging infrastructure, rising expenses and the tax cap, what do you foresee for Scarsdale’s future?
I think that we all must decide what kind of future we want for Scarsdale. Our infrastructure is aging. Are we okay with a continuation of a patch and pray system for repairs, where we make short-term fixes and hope nothing catastrophic happens? Or are we willing to invest to improve our infrastructure for the long term? Doing the latter will cost more in the short term, but may lead to a greater benefit to Scarsdale in the long term.
Remember to vote at the Scarsdale Library on Olmsted Road on Tuesday March 15, 2022 from 6 am to 9 pm.
(Photo Credit: Mark Jessamy)
Scarsdale Village Government: Looking for New Committee Members
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The following was submitted by the Scarsdale Village Advisory Council on Communications
Scarsdale is a special community full of accomplished and hardworking residents who engage and participate in every arena, giving generously of their time and expertise. While the Village has an exceptional professional team in place, the local government simply could not run at its current exemplary level without the dedication and engagement of Scarsdale residents. If you’ve ever wondered about the “how” and “why” of decisions made by the Trustees, or a particular Village board, or pondered the best way to contribute to making sure things run smoothly in our Village, please consider getting involved. If you become a member of a Village board or council, you will have a tangible impact on maintaining, and even improving, the quality of life for all.
Scarsdale has a vaunted, decades-long tradition of volunteerism and civic engagement. Resident volunteers continually have an enormously positive effect on the spirit and on the seamless operation of our community, and boards and councils are a much bigger part of that high level of success than many people realize. If you are interested in following this worthwhile example and taking an active role in our local government–beyond the (undeniably important) public comment sessions of board meetings and public hearings–here is your chance.
Each spring, the Scarsdale Board of Trustees’ Personnel Committee invites all residents to apply to lend their voices, training, and skills to help shape, preserve and adjust myriad aspects of this wonderful community. Village staff and Trustees rely on insight and recommendations from resident volunteers with relevant experience and skills; community input is a key component of what makes government effective, responsive, and inclusive, whether it be problem-solving, addressing current needs, expanding successful programs, or preparing for what lies ahead. In fact, we can all be proud of how Scarsdale has managed the recent and ongoing challenges of the pandemic, thanks in no small part to this inclusive system.
So please consider joining us. Want to improve how the Village communicates with its residents? Apply to the Advisory Council on Communications. Think the Village should be doing more to engage kids? Raise your hand for the Advisory Council on Youth. Want to help make responsible zoning decisions while considering the character and feel of neighborhoods? The Zoning Board of Appeals or the Board of Architectural Review may be a good fit.
What’s Right for You?
There are advisory boards and decision-making boards. Please check out this page online in order to find the descriptions of each volunteer board and council, including duties, time commitments, frequency of meetings. Residents can learn more about eligibility, and access the application here. While the number of open spots fluctuates, there is something for everyone over the course of time, depending on availability, experience and interests.
Here’s how the process generally works: When people apply, they are asked to select their top three choices for service. Members of the Scarsdale Board of Trustees will then reach out to applicants to gauge their level of interest, learn more about their particular skill sets, and answer any questions. While most positions are filled in the spring, the process does occur on a rolling basis if openings become available throughout the year. Feel free to reach out to Trustee Brew (kbrew@scarsdale.com) or Trustee Whitestone (rwhitestone@scarsdale.com) with any questions as well. Your many neighbors who have participated will tell you: Just do it! You won’t regret it!
Trustees Consider Ban on Roosters But Decide Not to Pick On Chickens
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At a work session on February 1, the Scarsdale Village trustees discussed a draft of a new law, to address concerns about noisy roosters, peafowl and chickens. After discussion, the trustees decided to ban only roosters and peafowl for now while they gather more information from residents who keep chickens, or hens, as pets or for their eggs.
In order to give residents who now have roosters a chance to find them a new home, the draft of the law gave people 30 days to relocate them.
Chickens however proved to be another matter. Trustee Arest said, “Do we know how many people have chickens? Because we don’t know who has them I am concerned about not hearing from those people.”
Trustee Brew agreed. “If people have chickens and they are outlawed, it could be seen as rather harsh. I would feel better if they had a little more time.”
Trustee Ahuja concurred. He said, “I am wholly in agreement with Justin – it seems easy but none of this stuff is ever easy.”
Trustee Lewis was ready to move forward with the code change. He said, “I love animals and have had many kinds of pets. But I think the staff has done the work and I am inclined to go with this and lengthen the grace period to a few months so that we can focus on our budget.”
Rob Cole confirmed that the Village has no data on how many people would be affected. He said, “We don’t know how many people have chickens. But in most places where it’s legal to have chickens, there are laws regulating their presence.” He later said, “For the chickens we have only had complaints about one location. I am not sure how many are out there. My recommendation is to prohibit them for now and allow sufficient time for people to transition them. We can revisit this if we hear that people want to keep chickens and then we can develop an urban chicken law.”
Calling into the meeting resident Michelle Sterling said, “I understand why we need to ban roosters. But I know quite a few people who keep hens in Scarsdale. They don’t make noise. They keep them for the eggs – and for an experience for their children. They are like pets – it might not be easy to get rid of them – and take away the opportunity to harvest the eggs.”
After considerable discussion, the trustees agreed to ban only roosters and peafowl and to give people more time to relocate the roosters. They also asked staff to find how many people have chickens and to determine the need for an urban chicken law. The new code change will be subject to a public hearing and the Village will do outreach to attempt to notify anyone who might be affected.
Non-Resident Pool Passes Availabe, PRC Proposes Funds to Replace Playground Equipment at Greenacres
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Here's some news from the Scarsdale Recreation Department concernig the pool and the playground at Greenacres:
The Scarsdale Recreation Department is offering a limited number of pool membership to non-residents for the 2022 season. In addition, they forwarded us the following about a possible upgrade to the Greenacres Playground where there have been no baby swings for several years. See below for details from Brian Gray, Superintendent of the Scarsdale Parks and Recreation Department.
Non Resident Pool Passes
Due to popular demand, we’re offering a limited 150 Non-Resident Scarsdale Pool Complex memberships on a first come/first served basis beginning 9AM on Tuesday, March 01, 2022.
Friends and neighbors from outside communities are cordially invited to join and experience the same fun that our Scarsdale families have enjoyed over the years. The family-oriented facility is a great place to spend this summer, with plenty of grass and shade for parents to relax while the kids have a blast.
Non-Resident Pool Permits are offered at $1,280 for families and $770 for individuals, an outstanding value when compared to other alternatives in the region. Our facility is clean, safe, and designed for persons of all ages. The complex is in a serene location, set back far from the roadway adjacent to the Westchester County Saxon Woods Park. The Complex setting is often referred to as sublime, full of natural beauty and sounds of fun in the air.
Membership benefits include:
• Unlimited use of three pools, a diving well, basketball court, and a sand volleyball court;
• Access to the facility seven days per week, from May 28 through September 11;
• The ability to bring up to four guests each visit (additional guest fees apply);
• Access to four Special Event Days with activities, giveaways, & a live DJ; and
• Free admission to the annual Firework Spectacular when arriving before 8:00 PM.
Membership also includes the opportunity to register for all special pool programs, such as Pool Birthday Parties, Private and Group Swimming Lessons, Splash N’ Play Days, and many more!
For more information, visit www.scarsdale.com or call the Department of Parks, Recreation and Conservation at (914)-722-1160.
We look forward to seeing you at the pool!
Greenacres Playground
The Department of PRC has been researching a method to fix the swings at Greenacres Playground to render them safe and usable to standards set by the National Playground Safety Institute (NPSI). Unfortunately we are experiencing a number of issues with respect to the playground apparatus at Greenacres Playground, the biggest being the original manufacturer, Iron Valley Forge, has gone out of business and was bought by Little Tikes. Unfortunately, Little Tikes no longer have the materials needed to remedy our swing issues.
In short, fixing the current swings would require cutting off the welded brackets (picture attached) and replacing with a modified bracket system not 100% compatible with the existing crossmember that the swings would hang off of. The safety of our park patrons is the Department’s top mission and this fix is not one I recommend or would authorize.
We have included a capital request of $40,000 in the FY 22/23 village budget to replace the existing apparatus at Greenacres Playground with a modern design that can be enjoyed by the next generation of Scarsdale residents.
The goal is to replace all existing apparatus with new, modern play features. Due to the small footprint of the existing playground, it is anticipated $40k will be ample funding. At this time we are unsure of what the future site will accommodate, as the selection of play features will depend on what we can fit while taking into consideration each piece of equipment’s fall zones.
Redistricting: Paulin Warns That Your Voice In Congress Could Be Diluted
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Assemblywoman Amy Paulin joined a Village Board work session on January 11, 2022 to alert voters that Southern Westchester’s voice in the U.S. Congress stands to be diminished in new redistricting maps proposed by an Independent Redistricting Commission.
Following the 2020 Census, an Independent Redistricting Commission (IRC) was charged with redrawing district maps to reflect population numbers. The commission was comprised of four Democrats, four Republicans, and one member each from the Working Families party and the Conservative party.
However the commission failed to come to consensus on the new maps and instead of proposing one set they proposed two sets for approval to the NYS Senate and Assembly. A two thirds majority was required to pass the vote in the state legislature who rejected the first set of maps on Monday January 9, 2022. Now the IRC has fifteen days to come up with a new plan and resubmit it for approval.
If they fail to come up with a plan to which they all agree, the NYS Legislature will be charged with doing the redistricting.
What is upsetting to many in Westchester is that in both plans Southern Westchester is split into three rather than two Congressional districts, diluting the voice of the community in Washington. One of the scenarios takes 100,000 voters from New Rochelle and places them in a district represented by Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez that includes Queens and the Bronx.
Critics say, “This decision divides communities throughout the region and would especially dilute the voice of the community of southern Westchester centered around Scarsdale and northern New Rochelle. This area has shared infrastructure and institutions, and both proposals would split this community into not two but three different Congressional Districts. … During last year’s public hearings, when residents of New Rochelle testified before the Independent Redistricting Commission, several were asked by Commissioners whether they would want a district connecting New Rochelle to Queens. None said yes, yet the Commission still drew a Queens to New Rochelle district in both of its proposals. Rather than having District 14 be contained entirely in New York City and District 16 be the only district to cross the Westchester/Bronx border, as was proposed in the earlier Names and Letters draft plans, the Commission inexplicably decided to cross the county border twice.”
Both Scarsdale Mayor Jane Veron and Assemblywoman Amy Paulin urged voters to send letters objecting to the new maps to decision makers.
Scarsdale residents can write to:
1) Amy Paulin at PaulinA@nyassembly.gov and Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins (https://www.nysenate.gov/registration/nojs/form/start/message-senator?senator=451855)
2) The Commission (https://www.nyirc.gov/contact);
3) LATFOR, the agency that aids the legislature in apportioning districts (info@latfor.state.ny.us)
